AARP Plan G Coverage: Explained

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AARP Medicare Supplement plans are offered through a partnership with UnitedHealthcare. When you sign up for a Medicare Supplement Insurance plan through AARP, you’ll be enrolled in a plan sponsored and backed by UnitedHealthcare, which is among the largest health insurance companies in the U.S.

Medicare Supplement Insurance, also called Medigap, provides coverage for out-of-pocket costs that are required by Original Medicare (Medicare Part A and Part B) such as deductibles, copayments and coinsurance.

In this AARP Medicare Supplement Plan G review, we explore one of the most popular Medicare Supplement plans on the market.

What Insurance Company Offers The Best Medicare Supplement Plan G For 2024?

Medicare Supplement Insurance benefits are standardized by the federal government. That means Medigap Plan G purchased through AARP will feature the same basic benefits as a Plan G purchased through a different carrier.

The only thing that differentiates one Plan G from another is the cost and any extra incentives the carrier may offer in exchange for your enrollment – such as SilverSneakers membership or discounts for multiple policyholders form the same house – which some insurance companies may offer.

Is Medicare Supplement Plan G A Popular Plan?

Medigap Plan G is soaring in popularity and is on track to become the top-selling Medicare Supplement Insurance plan.

Currently, Plan F is the most popular plan in terms of enrollment as it is the Medigap plan with the most coverage. However, Plan F is only available to beneficiaries who became eligible for Medicare prior to January 1, 2020. Anyone who became eligible for Medicare on or after that date may not purchase Plan F. 

After Plan F, the plan with the most coverage is Plan G. So that leaves Plan G as the best Medicare Supplement Insurance plan for incoming Medicare beneficiaries. 

Plan G saw a 33% enrollment increase from 2018 to 2019 alone, which was far higher than any other Medigap plan.

How Much Will I Pay with an AARP Plan G?

There are nine Medicare costs that can be covered by Medicare Supplement Insurance, and Plan G covers the following eight Medicare expenses (all costs are for 2024): 

1. Part A deductible
   Medicare Part A has a deductible of $1,632 per benefit period in 2024.
   
   
2. Medicare Part A coinsurance and additional hospital costs up to 365 days after Medicare benefits end
   After you meet your Part A deductible, Part A requires you to pay coinsurance of $408 per day for days 61 to 90 of a benefit period, and $816 per day for days 91 and beyond (up to 60 days total).
   
   
3. Medicare Part B coinsurance or copayments
   Part B typically charges a 20% coinsurance after you meet your annual Part B deductible.
   
   
4. First three pints of blood
   Medicare covers blood you need for a transfusion beginning with the fourth pint of blood. If you don’t have a Medigap plan that covers this cost, you may be required to pay for the first three pints of blood.
   
   
5. Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayment
   Part A requires small copayments or coinsurance for respite care and prescription drugs used during hospice care. 
   
   
6. Skilled nursing facility care coinsurance
   Part A requires daily coinsurance payments of $200 for days 21 to 100 of skilled nursing facility stays and requires the full cost for days 101 and beyond.
   
   
7. Part B excess charges
   Medicare Part B allows certain health care providers to charge up to 15% more than the Medicare-approved amount for their services or items.
   
   
8. Foreign travel emergency care
   Medicare provides coverage of emergency care received in foreign countries only under rare and limited circumstances. Plan G provides 80% coverage of the costs of such care. 

The only thing Plan G does not cover is the Medicare Part B deductible, which is $240 for the year in 2024. You can use the chart below to compare Plan G with other AARP Medicare Supplement plans.

How Much Does AARP Medicare Supplement Plan G Cost?

AARP Medicare Supplement Plan G will vary in cost according to where you live. The chart below gives you an idea of how much AARP Plan G may cost in different areas of the country.

All rates listed below are for a 65-year-old non-smoking male. AARP Medicare Supplement Plans may have different premiums in your area and can change from what is listed below. The premiums listed are from AARP and are subject to change.

What Is the Plan G Deductible in 2024?

There are two version of Medigap Plan G: a standard version and a high-deductible version.

The standard version of Plan G has no deductible, which means your Plan G coverage will begin with the very first dollar spent on covered care. The high-deductible version features a deductible of $2,800 (in 2024) that must be met before the plan coverage kicks in.

The tradeoff for the high-deductible version of Plan G is that it typically comes at a lower monthly premium than the standard version of the plan. 

What Are the Eligibility Requirements for AARP Medicare Supplement Plan G?

You must be enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B before you can apply for Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan G. And you must be at least 65 years old to purchase Medigap in some but not all states. Lastly, you must live in the area that is serviced by the plan. While Medigap can be used anywhere that Original Medicare is accepted, it can only be purchased in the county or zip code in which you reside.

To apply for AARP G Plan or any other Medigap plan from AARP, you must be an AARP member. Memberships are $16 per year in 2024 and include a number of savings and discounts on travel, dining, shopping and more. To learn more, visit the myaarpmedicare.com website or call the AARP provider phone number. 

How Do I Apply for Medicare Supplement Plan G?

You may apply for an AARP or other Medicare Supplement Insurance plan at any time by contacting a licensed insurance agent. However, the best time to do so is during your Medigap Open Enrollment Period. This period begins the month you are 65 years old and enrolled in both Medicare Part A and Part B. Your Medigap Open Enrollment Period lasts for six months. 

During this enrollment period, you have what are called guaranteed issue rights. When you have guaranteed issue rights, insurance companies are not allowed to use medical underwriting to determine your plan rates or to deny you coverage. But if you apply for a plan during a time when you don’t have guaranteed issue rights, a carrier may use medical underwriting to charge you a higher rate or deny you coverage based on your health.

Current members of AARP Medicare Supplement Plans can visit myaarpmedicare.com or call the AARP provider phone number on your member ID card. 

Medigap prices may vary among insurance carriers in the same area, so contact a licensed insurance agent for help comparing all of your plan options.